As demand for frozen foods continues to grow, manufacturers are increasingly investing in automation to improve efficiency, consistency, and scalability. A recent Packaging World case study highlights how Arizona-based frozen potato producer Frites Street successfully transformed its packaging operation through the implementation of an automated weighing and bagging system.
Originally launched as a food truck business serving Belgian-style French fries, Frites Street evolved into a supplier of frozen gourmet fries, breakfast potatoes, and other potato products to restaurants and foodservice operators throughout the region. As demand increased, the company’s manual packaging process became a significant bottleneck, limiting its ability to scale production efficiently.
To support continued growth, Frites Street implemented a packaging line consisting of a Maxpack MFT 7 Ultimate Range Vertical Form-Fill-Seal (VFFS) machine integrated with a Maxpack MHW 14-head combination scale. The automated system accurately weighs and packages 5-pound bags of frozen French fries while dramatically increasing throughput and reducing labor requirements. The company now produces approximately 15 bags per minute while maintaining the traceability and consistency required for SQF-certified food production.
The project also highlights the unique challenges associated with frozen food packaging. Frozen products require equipment capable of operating reliably in cold, wet, and washdown environments while maintaining weighing accuracy and packaging integrity. The integrated Maxpack solution includes conveyors, a multihead weigher, VFFS bagger, thermal transfer printing for lot traceability, and downstream inspection equipment to ensure product quality throughout the packaging process.
According to the Packaging World report, the impact on productivity has been substantial. A packaging process that previously required multiple employees working an entire shift can now package significantly higher volumes in a fraction of the time, creating the operational capacity necessary to support future growth.
For frozen food manufacturers, the Frites Street project demonstrates how the right packaging automation platform can eliminate bottlenecks, improve labor efficiency, enhance traceability, and create the foundation required for long-term expansion. As labor costs continue to rise and demand for frozen products remains strong, flexible and scalable packaging systems are becoming increasingly important to maintaining a competitive advantage.
Source: Packaging World – Vertical Bagger Helps French Fry Maker Scale Production.